The morning broke over the beautiful Anahuac in loveliness and
splendor. Nature, in all her forms, sent forth anthems of praise to the
Almighty Creator. The forests rang with a medley of happy sounds, which
rose from myriads of living things--the warbling of the inimitable
mockingbird, and the trill and coo of its less melodious neighbors; the
chirp and bark of the frisking little animals, together with the
incessant whir and hum of the insect hosts--a grand chorus of
thanksgiving, spontaneously rendered by an indiscriminate multitude of
God's inferior creatures, all filled with the unalloyed happiness of an
unconsciousness of evil, an unconsciousness which is denied to man, who
is created in the image of his Maker, and endowed with that supreme
attribute, the power to reason.
Such was the morning, and the waking it brought, of the day which
followed the arrival of Hualcoyotl at Zelmonco villa.
The summons of a servant awoke the prince to a realization of his
surroundings. Sounds of joy and life fell upon his ear from without,
and stirred his soul with an emotion of sadness.
"Why should I be so environed," he soliloquized, "while all the rest of
the world are happy and free? No, not all; my people are neither," he
quickly added, as they rose up before his mind's eye in reproval.
"Yet," he further added, "their lot is preferable to mine."
Shaking off his unhappy feelings, he performed his morning ablutions
and clothed himself preparatory to going into the presence of his
hostess.
When he appeared at the door of his apartment he found a servant there,
who had been sent to conduct him to the eating-room, where breakfast
was waiting, and, better still, the little girl, now grown to woman's
stature, with whom he had romped and raced the hillsides over a hundred
times in the years of his happy boyhood, also waiting to receive him.
But how different were their positions and circumstances at this
meeting. Not children, but man and woman, stood face to face.
"Itlza!" exclaimed he, with surprise and admiration depicted on his
countenance and expressed in his voice, advancing toward her at the
same time.
A momentary confusion came over the maiden, and she stood undecided how
to act. The last time she saw him he was only a youth and she scarcely
more than a child. Now he was a great, strong man, with intellectual
superiority stamped on every feature, and dignity in every motion,
while she had bloomed into a coy and blushing young woman, a sufficient
cause for confusion in one so little acquainted with the world as she.
He saw her embarrassment, and coming close to her, said:
"Has the little girl I once knew so well, and for whom I held a most
tender regard, but who has now grown away from me, no word of welcome
for her childhood friend?"
This gave Itlza time to recover, and she began a reply by saying:
"Our noble prince--"
"No, no; Itlza! address me not thus," he said, quickly interrupting
her, and speaking earnestly. "I pray you, call me anything but that in
this hour of a renewal of our friendship. I like it not, coming from
your lips."
"Hualcoyotl, then, if it please you," she replied, smiling at his
earnestness.
"That is better, for it has in it the echo of a friendship I do not
forget," said he, interrupting her again; "a friendship, the memory of
which is very dear to me."
"You are very good, not to have forgotten your little friend after so
long a time," she replied. "Since I realize the change which has come
to both of us, it seems like a dream to have known you. Hualcoyotl, who
stands before me now, is not the Hualcoyotl I remember; he was only a
boy. When I saw you enter, confusion came upon me; I knew not whether I
should salute you as our prince, or greet you as an old friend."
She had recovered her composure, and spoke with ease.
"Your surprise was not greater than my own when I beheld, not my little
girl friend of other years, but a pretty young woman waiting to receive
me," was his gallant reply.
"There, now, don't let the breakfast spoil because of too many fine
words. Come, sit you down, my son; and you, my daughter, order the
chocolate," said the mother, not at all displeased at the gallantry
shown her child by the distinguished guest.
"Yes, mother," returned Itlza, going to execute the command, at the
same time looking very happy.
The eyes of the prince followed her admiringly as she left the room,
and he remarked:
"The years have, indeed, wrought changes in us all, but in Itlza the
greater. She has grown into an admirable woman."
"Yes," replied the gratified mother. "She has changed much in the last
few years."
The return to the room, at this moment, of the object of their remarks,
cut off further allusion to her. She took her seat at the board, and,
after customary formalities, the morning repast was begun.
The prince had made no reference to his friend, the tzin; but was,
nevertheless, much concerned about him, and, without further delay,
inquired:
"Teochma, I would hear something of Euetzin. Have you any knowledge of
his whereabouts?"
"Not of a certainty. He expected to be in Tlacopan about this time, if
nothing should occur to occasion delay."
"I wish that I might see him; but driven, as I am, to hasten on, I can
not hope to be so fortunate." After a short pause he continued: "How
long did he stop with you on his way out?"
"Only one evening--a brief stay, indeed; too brief to satisfy a
mother's heart," answered Teochma.
"Yes, the time, no doubt, seemed very short to you," returned
Hualcoyotl, "but the errand on which he has gone is of too great
importance to admit of delay, and no one realizes it more than he."
"We do not underrate his mission, noble friend, yet feel our
deprivation none the less," replied the mother.
"I believe you, good Teochma; and, be assured, if our cause is
triumphant, the reward shall be commensurate."
"Why should a reward be looked for by anyone in a revolt against
Tepanec oppression, save the deliverance of our people? The hope of
freedom for Tezcuco, and the privilege of helping to gain it, ought to
be a sufficient reward, and I am sure it would be for my brother Euet,"
said Itlza with a fervency which was a surprise to the prince. He
looked at her well pleased, and said:
"You are a true and loyal daughter of Tezcuco, Itlza, and I thank you
for your patriotic words. They are as pure gold, and could only emanate
from the heart of a child of Zelmozin and Teochma." As he spoke the
prince's eyes were fixed upon her with an expression of admiration and
deep sincerity.
"Hualcoyotl gives me entirely too much credit for my bit of enthusiasm.
It is not deserving of so much praise as he has seen fit to bestow upon
it," replied she, somewhat confused by the earnestness of his language.
"Your feelings, which prompt you to depreciate the very laudable
sentiment which you so forcibly expressed, and of which I could not
withhold my approval, are only natural; they could not be otherwise,
yet do not alter the case. I am glad the words were spoken in my
presence, and I shall remember them because they were yours," he
gallantly responded.
The prince was deeply and favorably impressed with the artlessness and
womanly bearing of his young friend, and had circumstances permitted
him to follow the lead of the thoughts which at that moment filled his
mind he would certainly have studied to win her love. The affections
which held the heart of the boy for the little girl had not died out.
His hungry heart was quickly ablaze from the smouldering spark when
fanned by the coy and winsome smile of Itlza, but he would not, then,
situated as he was, build on a hope which in all probability could
never be realized; still, he made a mental resolve, should fortune
favor his cause, to claim the charming Itlza for his queen.
In the conversation which followed, the prince appreciating the danger
which menaced his peace of mind, and which he felt was already yielding
to the subtle influence of Itlza's presence, gave his attention more
closely to Teochma. The topics of conversation varied, but finally
reverted to the tzin. As they arose from their seats at the conclusion
of breakfast, the prince said:
"I have faith in your noble son, good Teochma, and believe he will yet
occupy a high place among the warriors of his people. Considering him a
born leader of men, I have entrusted my future interests to his hands
with a perfect confidence. If he should fail, it will be because he has
undertaken an impossibility. But, Teochma, good mother of my friend, do
not be discouraged; he will not fail."
"Your faith in my son is very gratifying. We will hope, with you, for
the best," she replied.
The prince retired to his room, where he sat long, meditating on the
possibilities of the future; and as the panoramic pages of fantasy
passed athwart his brain, a picture not unlike the laughing face of
Itlza beamed upon him from everyone.
The day passed in solitude to him. He would not risk exposure, and,
therefore, remained in close seclusion.
Night and darkness came at last, and soon after Oza made his
appearance.
At an early hour the fugitives took their departure from the villa.
When about to leave, the prince said, as a further encouragement to his
friends:
"Have courage, good Teochma." Then turning to Itlza, he continued with
a fervency he did not try to conceal: "And you, my boyhood's sweet
child friend, continue faithful to the cause for which, in golden
words, you have proven your devotion."
Addressing both, he spoke hopefully: "The darkness of the night is but
the obscurance of the sun, the giver of light; so the darkness of this
hour in our country's enthrallment, let us hope, but precedes the dawn
of a bright and glorious day for her. Farewell, dear friends. May the
gods of our fathers shield and keep you!"
He turned away, and a moment later was gone.
The mother and daughter were again alone; and thus we leave them to
contemplate, in sad silence, the rapidly changing conditions of their
lives.